“Not many men can say that about a group whom they hired five years ago and who work without their master’s supervision.”
“I’m pleased at their ethics, sir.”I try to chose all with whom I associate very carefully.
“As well you should be.Tell me your status.Income to date this year.Losses.What are they?”
Victor sat back in his chair, proud to tell him.“Well sir, we pay ourselves and staff their salaries regularly, and this year perhaps a bonus, too.”
“Last year?”He peered at him, impatient, licking his lips.His father had forgotten that Victor sent him records every six months.“Tell me.I must know.”
His father wanted a report on the health of his export-import business and he deserved it.“I’ve turned your initial investment in me and mine into a growing concern, sir.We sold more than three million pounds worth of Chinese imports last year in Britain alone.Nearly the same in France and Germany.Hunger for silks and porcelain is not so great in Italy or Spain.Camphor too to kill insects and stabilize perfumes.”
His father barked in laughter.“Good choices.Where does it come from?”
“Our ships load it in south Asian ports.Very profitable.”
His father sat silent for an overly long time.When he rallied, he said, “And your manager here in the City?What’s his name?”
“MacIntyre.Frederick MacIntyre.Good man.”
“A Scotsman with an eye for numbers as I recall.”
Victor laughed.“Show him a column of figures and within a blink, he’s added them up for you.”
The old duke frowned, his eyes straying and returning to Victor.“Keep him.”
“I will, sir.”He leaned forward, elbows to his knees, and searched his father’s eyes.Victor sought to keep him focused.“What is it you want to discuss, Papa?”Tell me before you cannot.
“I have a problem.I want you to fix it for me.For your mother and Richard, too.”
If his father wanted him to dissuade Richard of proposing to the lovely American, he’d have a difficult time of it.She struck him with her frankness, her vibrant complexion and an odd interest in world affairs.He knew Richard well enough to predict that he’d enjoy her, consume her and never let her go.Her vivacity was a lure to any man who wanted a young and nubile creature in his bed.By making her his legal wife, Richard could possess her body and soul.
“If you mean to have me warn Richard from marrying the American girl, I doubt I can.”
“I don’t want to dissuade him.”
So his mother was alone in this.Unusual, that.But then his mother was more the social creature, his father the realist.Still, Victor had to test the older man’s resolve.“She has a sharp tongue to match her mind.”
“He likes that in her.She’ll poke him in the ribs when he strays.Keep him straight.”
Could anyone do that?
His father glanced away, lost in thought, and tapped the arm of his chair.“He’ll marry.Must.At last.I want him to get on with it.Quickly.I’ll not be here much longer and I want matters settled before I depart.You seem set.Recovered well.Financially too.But you are not happy, are you?”
Victor bristled.
“I do not wish to offend, my boy.I will say what I mean.Allow me that.”
“Yes, sir.”Folding his hands, Victor quelled the riot inside him.His father saw too much.Took license to be blunt because of his age.But Victor could not argue with him at this point in his life.Truth be told, he hoped for as much largesse from his own children when he grew old.“Well then.What is it?”
“I make you a proposition.”
The clock on the mantel struck the hour.As it bonged the last note of three, his father said, “I re-wrote my will a while ago.Can’t remember when.Hear me.Hear me.I bequeath you the old dower house of your maternal grandmother in Brighton.”
The house by the sea.Tears stung his eyes.How kind of this man to give him the very place he’d always loved.
“I’vehired a team to go in, clean it, whitewash it, repair the floor, add a new bathroom, the latest plumbing, no more of that cistern washing, you know.Electricity, too, and a new stove in the kitchen.You’ll have to hire a gardener to weed out that old vegetable patch.I leave the furnishings to you and yours.I put in two household staff.Butler, maid.Hired by the month.Yours to keep or not.”
The gift stunned him.“Father, I’m grateful but—”
